While one may not normally associate numismatics with the planet Mars, NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day blends the two seemingly disparate interests with an image sure to excite coin and space enthusiasts alike.
Posted today, Dec. 12, 2014, the Astronomy Picture of the Day shows an image of elongated crystal shapes taken on the surface of Mars by the Curiosity rover. An inset on the picture shows the 1909 VDB Lincoln cent that is attached to a calibration target used by the rover’s camera known as the Mars Hand Lens Imager, or MAHLI.
NASA offers this description of today’s Astronomy Picture of the Day:
"This extreme close-up, a mosaic from the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on the Curiosity rover, spans a breathtaking 5 centimeters. It captures what appear to be elongated crystal shapes formed by the precipitation of minerals dissolved in water, a likely result of the evaporation of ancient lake or river from the Martian surface. Brushed by a dust removal tool and illuminated by white LEDs, the target rock named Mojave was found on the Pink Cliffs outcrop of the Pahrump Hills at the base of Mount Sharp. The MAHLI images were acquired on Curiosity’s sol 809, known on planet Earth as November 15, 2014. Of course, the inset 1909 Lincoln Cent image is provided for a comparison scale. Covered with Mars dust itself, the penny is a MAHLI calibration target attached to the rover."
Curiosity was launched from Cape Canaveral on Nov. 26, 2011 to search areas of Mars for past or present conditions favorable for life, and conditions capable of preserving a record of life. After a 350,000,000 mile journey, the rover landed on the planet on Aug. 6, 2012. It has been surveying a small portion of the planet ever since.
The inclusion of the 1909 VDB Lincoln Cent was at the recommendation of MAHLI’s principal investigator, Ken Edgett. His selected the coin because Curiosity was originally scheduled to launch in 2009, one century after the introduction of the Lincoln Cent. One cent coins honoring the nation’s 16th President debuted in 1909. The coin’s obverse portrait of Abraham Lincoln was created by artist Victor David Brenner whose initials originally appeared on the coin’s reverse.
U.S. Mint-struck coins have been included in past NASA missions, but this marks the first time one was subjected to the conditions of another planet while being monitored. Over two years of Martian dust has collected on the obverse side of the Lincoln cent.
More information on NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity and the Mars mission can be found at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/.
What’s it like now, an MS-55? I think the micrometeorites are killin’ it.
But then again, no oxygen, no toning or corrosion.
Well, at least they got a common Philadelphia rather than the rare S-VDB. That would have been tragic.
Here’s a thought, what would Abraham Lincoln think if he knew his image is not only on a U.S. Penny, but roaming around the surface of Mars? For any of us, it would be mind boggeling.
Richard, I agree. My first thought when I heard about the coin was OHHH NOOO but then I saw that it was a Philly issue and not San Francisco. Maybe $50 sitting up there rather than two or three grand. I realize Marvin will be disappointed but hey…
Our fathers brought forth on this planet (Mars) a old Lincoln cent. Conceived in liberty and dedicated to the preposition that all planets are created equal.
Some lucky martian will find it one day and put it on eBay.
John O – you are welcome to blog here any day! lol